Community gathers for 'Empty Bowls' fundraiser

Anne Stokes, special to the Press TribuneDonors had a multitude of Empty Bowls from which to choose at the Placer Food Bank's annual fundraiser at the Maidu Center in Roseville. The hand crafted bowls were created by artists from several local middle and high school art students, Granite Bay's 4-H Club, Girl Scout Troop 1527, Pamela's Creations, Sierra College, and Sun City Roseville art students.

Anne Stokes, special to the Press TribuneHeather Swanson of Pilot Hill, left, and Sol Davis of Cool, both with Presenting Sponsor Wells Fargo, choose from a table full of handcrafted Empty Bowls at the Placer Food Bank's annual fundraiser at the Maidu Center in Roseville.

Anne Stokes, special to the Press TribuneArtists and volunteers Kyle Brosnan, 10, left and Evan Brosnan, 13, of Roseville show off their creations during the Placer Food Bank's annual Empty Bowls fundraiser at the Maidu Center in Roseville. Both boys volunteered through the Granite Bay 4-H Club.

Anne Stokes, special to the Press TribuneAmber Miller of Granite Bay, 17, who volunteered her time through the Eureka-Granite Bay 4-H Club, arranges Empty Bowls for donors to choose at the Placer Food Bank's annual fundraiser at the Maidu Center in Roseville.

Anne Stokes, special to the Press TribuneAnne Chacon of Roseville, who was there with event sponsor SureWest, is served by volunteer Carolyn Brosnan of Roseville at the Placer Food Bank's annual Empty Bowls fundraiser at the Maidu Center in Roseville.

Anne Stokes, special to the Press TribuneVolunteer Mckenna Cowles of Granite Bay, 12, serves donors at the Placer Food Bank's annual Empty Bowls fundraiser at the Maidu Center in Roseville.

Anne Stokes, special to the Press TribuneJoe Ringey of Roseville, left, Stephanie Ringey, and Terri Balbierz of Roseville attend the Placer Food Bank's annual Empty Bowls fundraiser at the Maidu Center in Roseville.

Anne Stokes, special to the Press TribuneDonors had a multitude of Empty Bowls from which to choose at the Placer Food Bank's annual fundraiser at the Maidu Center in Roseville. The hand crafted bowls were created by artists from several local middle and high school art students, Granite Bay's 4-H Club, Girl Scout Troop 1527, Pamela's Creations, Sierra College, and Sun City Roseville art students.

Anne Stokes, special to the Press TribunePlacer Food Bank board chairman Shaun Sanassarian, right, and his son Presley, 15, choose from a table full of Empty Bowls at the annual Empty Bowls fundraiser benefiting the Placer County Food Bank.

The Placer Food Bank, which serves 42,000 hungry individuals each month in Placer County and beyond, held its third annual Empty Bowls fundraiser on Thursday in Roseville. Donors enjoyed "a simple meal to raise funds so that others can simply eat," and hand-crafted bowls created by local artists and art students.

The proceeds of the fundraiser will allow the food bank to provide services to needy residents through the summer months, when donations are usually lower than during the winter-time holidays.

"Hunger knows no boundaries. No where is that statement more evident than here in Placer County," said Executive Director Dave Martinez. "In fact, our services have increased over 200 percent in the last four years. Today, one in seven residents struggle with hunger. It's amazing to think that one in seven people are hungry in our community. Thirty-six percent of those households are folks that have at least one working adult, even two. And that's phenomenal."